Support is just a phone call away.
That’s the message Rashad Gattison and the team at the Port City United call center, known as PCU Connect, want community members to know.
“Asking for help is hard for so many reasons. First, it can be difficult to actually say, ‘I need help.’ Sometimes you don’t know who to ask, where to turn or what to ask for. That’s where we come in,” said Gattison, the PCU Connect Supervisor. “Our staff knows this community. We know the service providers in our area and what they can do. Our goal is to make sure those who call us know they’ve reached out to a confidential place where they can get connected to the help they need quickly.”
PCU Connect is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year by calling 910-798-4444. This phone line serves as a resource for community members to utilize if they need support. All calls are confidential and the trained call center specialists have the knowledge and insight to assist those in-need by connecting them to organizations that can provide much-needed resources.
Residents are encouraged to call if they need assistance with food, housing, mental health resources, community support or an array of other topics. PCU Connect is not an emergency hotline. For a mental health crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK. For a medical or life-threatening emergency, call 911.
“When Port City United was established as a department to address violence in our county, we knew that looking at the root cause of where violence stems from had to be a priority,” said Port City United Director Cedric Harrison. “In our strategic plan, we outline clearly that we want individuals to connect with comprehensive solutions that don’t just address their problems short-term, but help them sustain the ability to be successful in the long run, steering them away from the need to use violence. PCU Connect is the first place to go that can help make that happen.”
Source: https://news.nhcgov.com/news-releases/2022/06/pcu-connect-opens-helps-residents-receive-needed-resources/
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